Flanders *spoiler*

greasedscotsman

Le Commentateur wrote:

As it is we actually got a classic edition in the last 20kms with more protagonists in the run in than I remmber seeing before, so maybe there's hope that the finish won't switch to Oudenaarde (which is nearer many of the bigger bergs of the race).

Might be interesting though, a finale of the Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg before dropping down into Ouderaarde for the finish?

moray_gub

iainf72 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Pissed over Boonen. No one has mentioned Boonen's attacking and its effect on Chavanel.

I thought Boonen's move was smooth. He forced Cancellera to do something too far out and wore himself out. If he's gone off on his own 10km later it would've been game over.

I sometimes think I'm watching a different sports in a parallel universe.

You're not but remember the person you are debating with has the tactical nous of an amoeba.

Tom Butcher

iainf72 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Sure you could look at it they way you are but Cancellara is an A-Grade pro, if he didn't want to attack he would have stayed on Boonen's wheel.

I've spoken to a few people who watched the race who thought Fabian didn't use his head.

Were they saying that when he had a minute on the bunch though ? I don't see what else Cancellara could have done - even with hindsight there's no obvious point in the race where I'd say that was a mistake by Fabian.

Personally I thought Boonen's attack was impulsive - as possibly the strongest sprinter likely to be in there at the end all he had to do was follow wheels and wait for someone else to start the action. I think sometimes he rides as if he's got more power than he actually has these days. Maybe it was motivated by trying to get away before Gilbert was back at the front of the bunch - take a small group across to Chavanel and use the fact that there were two Quicksteps to cover any attacks Cancellera made from there. I suppose that may have worked.

So many what if moments though. For Gilbert if only Ballan had managed to stay with him on that final climb the two of them might just have stayed away to win - solo Gilbert was never going to do it. Maybe Gilbert should have recognised that and throttled back 5% to drag Ballan and maybe 1-2 others with him rather than shedding them all.

pb21

What if Gilbert hadn’t punctured?

It had a massive impact on his chances of winning.

Le Commentateur

Tom Butcher wrote:

So many what if moments though.

If only Chavanel had gone left instead of right when they started the sprint. Got everything right all day until that final moment.

rick_chasey

Ah it's bloody great isn't it?

One day of racing and I'm still buzzing days later - about the whole thing, not just one moment.

deejay

iainf72 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Pissed over Boonen. No one has mentioned Boonen's attacking and its effect on Chavanel.

I thought Boonen's move was smooth. He forced Cancellera to do something too far out and wore himself out. If he's gone off on his own 10km later it would've been game over.

I sometimes think I'm watching a different sports in a parallel universe.

IMO :!:
That Leberg attacking by both were "Feelers" to get a smaller Selection or at least to string them out before the Valkenberg climb.
It became a "Balls up" because Tom got blocked and Fabian was suddenly away and puzzled why Tom was not on his wheel.
The team radio telling him to do a 2010 Roubaix but he hadn't prepared for that, and if it was a plan to do such a long TT, then he would have stoked up with food.
So the pre-race plans went out the window.


A Finish at Oudenaarde would have to be on the N60 (Ronse-Oudenaarde-Gent) and probably the Ring road with a Koppenberg as the last climb. :roll:

rick_chasey

deejay wrote:

:
That Leberg attacking by both were "Feelers" to get a smaller Selection or at least to string them out before the Valkenberg climb.
It became a "Balls up" because Tom got blocked and Fabian was suddenly away and puzzled why Tom was not on his wheel.


A Finish at Oudenaarde would have to be on the N60 (Ronse-Oudenaarde-Gent) and probably the Ring road with a Koppenberg as the last climb. :roll:

In fairness, Boonen said post-race he let Fabian get away because he would have 'shredded' his legs if he tried to stay with him. It wasn't because he was blocked.

deejay

iainf72 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

C'mon guys. Nuyens made it to the final group 16 or whatever it was, and from that he made it into the winning break of 3 (where he did take turns!) and of that three he won in the sprint!

The dude has won Het Volk and KBK, as well as top 10 rides in Flanders before. He's a worthy winner and did an excellent ride. Anyone who can't see that is an eejit.

I'm in agreement with both of you.
I just happen to have been at both those races and at last weeks Dwars Door Vlaanderen (1.2 Km to go with a TV) where he beat Garaint Thomas (Wales) the British Champion. (Quite exciting that was for me)
I don't recall Nuyens wheelsucking there.

Talking of Geraint Thomas, I really think that he is a Natural for these races and can take over from Flecha at some time.
I havn't got this excited about a GB rider in this terain since Tom Simpson. (who I've also watched at the road side)
Steady Huw it's just me thinking that needs a bigger Forum.

deejay

Rick Chasey wrote:

deejay wrote:

:
That Leberg attacking by both were "Feelers" to get a smaller Selection or at least to string them out before the Valkenberg climb.
It became a "Balls up" because Tom got blocked and Fabian was suddenly away and puzzled why Tom was not on his wheel.


A Finish at Oudenaarde would have to be on the N60 (Ronse-Oudenaarde-Gent) and probably the Ring road with a Koppenberg as the last climb. :roll:

In fairness, Boonen said post-race he let Fabian get away because he would have 'shredded' his legs if he tried to stay with him. It wasn't because he was blocked.

OK. but that is hindsight and I'm inclined to believe the body language I saw as it happened.
But who am I to argue.

calvjones

..whereas he was caught, and I'm just back from probably the best weekend away ever.

Kudos to Nuyens, but Chavanel was murdered by shyte QS tactics. As usual.

The 'AAH' and then 'oooh' of the crowd at the finish as Pip attacked on the Bosberg, then the screen showed Can struggling was great!

fungus_the_muffin_man

deejay wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

C'mon guys. Nuyens made it to the final group 16 or whatever it was, and from that he made it into the winning break of 3 (where he did take turns!) and of that three he won in the sprint!

The dude has won Het Volk and KBK, as well as top 10 rides in Flanders before. He's a worthy winner and did an excellent ride. Anyone who can't see that is an eejit.

I'm in agreement with both of you.
I just happen to have been at both those races and at last weeks Dwars Door Vlaanderen (1.2 Km to go with a TV) where he beat Garaint Thomas (Wales) the British Champion. (Quite exciting that was for me)
I don't recall Nuyens wheelsucking there.

Talking of Geraint Thomas, I really think that he is a Natural for these races and can take over from Flecha at some time.
I havn't got this excited about a GB rider in this terain since Tom Simpson. (who I've also watched at the road side)
Steady Huw it's just me thinking that needs a bigger Forum.

I would have really liked Sky to read the situation better and change tactics at the end. GT was doing an awful lot of work to get Flecha back in the mix. I think had Sky switched it round at the end and got Flecha to pull GT to the front group he would have had a great chance to pull something out of the bag.
But then again he may have been that goosed he wouldn't have made it back up there even being drafted up.

Is GT a genuine contender for the white jersey at teh TDF? or has Martins got it sowed up? I suppose thats a convo point in another thread not this one.

Abdoujaparov

Cancellara definitely made a poor decision to counter-attack Boonen. There were far too many riders just behind them to attack from that distance out - unlike P-R last year.

I think Canc might have a bit of Boonen fixation - it was a good time to drop Boonen, but at the expense of his own race. And you could see in the last 400m that Canc was desperate for Boonen not to win. He was in a really difficult position with that one though.

RichN95.

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

Is GT a genuine contender for the white jersey at teh TDF? or has Martins got it sowed up? I suppose thats a convo point in another thread not this one.

No chance (for either of them). The likes of Gesink, especially, and Kreuziger are still young enough.

cavcan

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

deejay wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

C'mon guys. Nuyens made it to the final group 16 or whatever it was, and from that he made it into the winning break of 3 (where he did take turns!) and of that three he won in the sprint!

The dude has won Het Volk and KBK, as well as top 10 rides in Flanders before. He's a worthy winner and did an excellent ride. Anyone who can't see that is an eejit.

I'm in agreement with both of you.
I just happen to have been at both those races and at last weeks Dwars Door Vlaanderen (1.2 Km to go with a TV) where he beat Garaint Thomas (Wales) the British Champion. (Quite exciting that was for me)
I don't recall Nuyens wheelsucking there.

Talking of Geraint Thomas, I really think that he is a Natural for these races and can take over from Flecha at some time.
I havn't got this excited about a GB rider in this terain since Tom Simpson. (who I've also watched at the road side)
Steady Huw it's just me thinking that needs a bigger Forum.

I would have really liked Sky to read the situation better and change tactics at the end. GT was doing an awful lot of work to get Flecha back in the mix. I think had Sky switched it round at the end and got Flecha to pull GT to the front group he would have had a great chance to pull something out of the bag.
But then again he may have been that goosed he wouldn't have made it back up there even being drafted up.

Is GT a genuine contender for the white jersey at teh TDF? or has Martins got it sowed up? I suppose thats a convo point in another thread not this one.

I totally agree - both Flecha and Thomas made big efforts on the front at various times in the last 5-10kms... would they have not been better off working out who was the stronger (Thomas in my opinion) and leaving the other to bury themselves on the front?

frenchfighter

Good comments from Maertens.

In short Riis is the man and Chavanel would have won if it wasn't for his team.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8010/ ... Ronde.aspx

frenchfighter

deejay

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

deejay wrote:

Talking of Geraint Thomas, I really think that he is a Natural for these races and can take over from Flecha at some time.
I havn't got this excited about a GB rider in this terain since Tom Simpson. (who I've also watched at the road side)

I would have really liked Sky to read the situation better and change tactics at the end. GT was doing an awful lot of work to get Flecha back in the mix. I think had Sky switched it round at the end and got Flecha to pull GT to the front group he would have had a great chance to pull something out of the bag.

Is GT a genuine contender for the white jersey at teh TDF? or has Martins got it sowed up? I suppose thats a convo point in another thread not this one.

I think that when the Olympics are finished next year and Geraint being 26 he should get on another team (with a background in Pave) for the 2013 season.
I'm sure then, as he matures he could pull off some Big One's with his staying power and those big windmill gears which are good for the Pave. (maybe even to be the new Spartacus)

LangerDan

Just so Rick won't feel too depressed at QuickSteps loss on Sunday, look at the team marking on Nuyens tubs



So, technically, QS crossed the line first!

inkyfingers

deejay wrote:

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

deejay wrote:

Talking of Geraint Thomas, I really think that he is a Natural for these races and can take over from Flecha at some time.
I havn't got this excited about a GB rider in this terain since Tom Simpson. (who I've also watched at the road side)

I would have really liked Sky to read the situation better and change tactics at the end. GT was doing an awful lot of work to get Flecha back in the mix. I think had Sky switched it round at the end and got Flecha to pull GT to the front group he would have had a great chance to pull something out of the bag.

Is GT a genuine contender for the white jersey at teh TDF? or has Martins got it sowed up? I suppose thats a convo point in another thread not this one.

I think that when the Olympics are finished next year and Geraint being 26 he should get on another team (with a background in Pave) for the 2013 season.
I'm sure then, as he matures he could pull off some Big One's with his staying power and those big windmill gears which are good for the Pave. (maybe even to be the new Spartacus)

I don't think he needs to change teams. He has a year or two to learn from Flecha befpre he becomes the leader, unless of course EBH suddenly fulfills his "potential" in these races.

RichN95.

inkyfingers wrote:

I don't think he needs to change teams. He has a year or two to learn from Flecha befpre he becomes the leader, unless of course EBH suddenly fulfills his "potential" in these races.

I agree with that. Sky are starting to look a real force in Belgium. And as for DS's, there's not much that Yates, Knaven and De Jongh don't know about cobbles (and possibly Arvesen in future).

rick_chasey

LangerDan wrote:

Just so Rick won't feel too depressed at QuickSteps loss on Sunday, look at the team marking on Nuyens tubs



So, technically, QS crossed the line first!

Recon he nicked them on his way out of the door at QS?

LangerDan

Rick Chasey wrote:

Recon he nicked them on his way out of the door at QS?

Possibly, though Lefevre strikes me as the sort of guy who'd be well aware of the revenue-enhancing opportunities offered by selling second-hand team tat on Ebay.

rick_chasey

I believe QS stocked up on a load of tyres when their favourite tyre maker decided to stop business, and there are many stories of the more old skool teams (read QS & Lotto) buying big bulks of quality tyres and throw them into a cellar for 3-5 years for Roubaix.

rick_chasey

Anyone notice how QS and Euskatel were pretty much the only teams running box-set wheels in Flanders? The rest were on the more normal road wheels.

They're so old skool they should all be made to wear tweed flatcaps those QS guys.

LangerDan

Rick Chasey wrote:

Anyone notice how QS and Euskatel were pretty much the only teams running box-set wheels in Flanders? The rest were on the more normal road wheels.

When you're running the same kit in a Flemish classic as Euskaltel, its probably time to wander over to Van Ecyks and flash a little cash.

Le Commentateur

Rick Chasey wrote:

I believe QS stocked up on a load of tyres when their favourite tyre maker decided to stop business, and there are many stories of the more old skool teams (read QS & Lotto) buying big bulks of quality tyres and throw them into a cellar for 3-5 years for Roubaix.

Indeed, and at Flanders Euskatel were racing on old Vittoria Paves.

RichN95.

Le Commentateur wrote:

Indeed, and at Flanders Euskatel were racing on old Vittoria Paves.

Euskaltel's tyres only have to last to the first feed station though.

disgruntledgoat

RichN95 wrote:

Le Commentateur wrote:

Indeed, and at Flanders Euskatel were racing on old Vittoria Paves.

Euskaltel's tyres only have to last to the first feed station though.

Arf! I used those on the sportive, in their defense the only thing that didn't go wrong for me was not getting any punctures

deejay

inkyfingers wrote:

I don't think he needs to change teams. He has a year or two to learn from Flecha befpre he becomes the leader, unless of course EBH suddenly fulfills his "potential" in these races.

I Think what I saw on Monday with Leopard and again with Garmin yesterday. I don't think Sky have a clue either.
WTF is going on. ??

Put Geraint in a Classics Team and he will develop to Top Class. IMO
Look at Chavanel he almost had the dream he wanted by changing to a "Know How Team" with more to come from him.